New Mexico AG's Office to seek damages from money launderer

Robert Chavez being sued by AG for $207,000

John Bear—Daily News
Convicted methamphetamine trafficker, racketeer and money launderer Robert Chavez is led to a holding cell in 12th Judicial District Court in April. The New Mexico Attorney General's Office is seeking civil damages against Chavez.

The State of New Mexico Attorney General's Office will seek civil damages totaling $207,000 against a convicted money launderer and drug trafficker, according to 12th Judicial District Court records.

According to a civil complaint, the Attorney General's Office is seeking $207,000 in monetary damages against Robert Chavez, 41. That's three times the amount he is known to have laundered to conceal money he earned trafficking methamphetamine, according to court documents obtained by the Daily News.

A Chaves County jury convicted Chavez in February of money laundering, conspiracy, methamphetamine trafficking and racketeering. A Chaves County 5th Judicial District Court Judge in March sentenced Chaves to 36 years in prison.

Matthew J. Bouillon, Assistant Attorney General Border Violence Division of the New Mexico Attorney General, said at the time that his office would seek penalties for money laundering against Chavez.

He said Monday that his unit exists to address the problem of money laundering on the Southwest Border and particularly in New Mexico.

"This is really just our way of saying that this is a serious offense," Bouillon said. "Once a criminal case is done, there are civil ramifications."

According to the complaint, Chavez is known to have purchased three vehicles from a local car dealership using proceeds from drug sales, about $69,000.

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Under state law, the plaintiff can seek damages that are triple the amount of the actual money laundered, which amounts to $207,000, according to the complaint.

Chavez is a member of an alleged methamphetamine trafficking ring known as the "AZ Boys" because of its ties to the Phoenix area.

Chavez's brother, Joe Chavez, 44, was also convicted of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit trafficking a controlled substance, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is currently jailed awaiting sentencing.

Several other people have been charged in connection with the alleged ring. One other person has already pleaded to money laundering and racketeering charges.

In May of 2012, the Otero County Narcotics Enforcement Unit and Otero County Sheriff's Office Detective Division seized four pounds of methamphetamine imported from Arizona along with 13 vehicles owned by people associated with the alleged ring.

Bouillon said the money laundering act was passed in 1998 and affords the government the statutory right to sue someone after their conviction, as it is in the Chavez brothers' case.

"We intend to make this a component of money laundering enforcement in New Mexico because the law specifically allows for it," he said. "That's why we are doing this. We are hoping that people will look at what we are doing as an attempt to address a problem that has gone on too long."